Thread: Brown Recluse Spiders-(ouch ******)

Wow, were you ever unlucky! Brown recluse bites actually are fairly uncommon in Texas. I've seen 4 or 5 in my practice during the past 10 years. I've never even heard of anyone with more than one bite at a time, and even one bite can make a person quite ill.

Sorry to hear you had to spend your Christmas that way! Hospitals are never much fun and are anything but restful places to be.

Hope you have a speedy recovery, though, brown recluse bites can take a long time to heal, even with careful wound care. If you aren't already doing so, you might want to consider seeing a wound care specialist.

JohnK

I might have to get a tatoo if they heal up alright but right now I don't have any.We go back to doctor this week and so far so good. the meds are pretty ruff on my stomach but hanging in there. While doing the mad clean night the ladies found 6 BR'S in our garage.We did'nt find any in the campers or the house.They even bombed my trusty old Explorer. So hopefully I ran into them in the garage by our side door.The hospital I was in has had 4 other BR bites.They said they they sometimes see 10 bites a year.They sure do alot of damage for their size.Thanks for the replies and JohnK i will asked about a specialist.The worst part is trying to firgure a way to sit, I got the little air dounut but I think I need to get 1 of our Garner float tubes.Again thanks and take care.

srds :cool:
Have Fun

Thanks for sharing this story and I wish you a speedy and good recovery.

BBH

I forgot to ask. You mentioned that they found 6 brown recluse spiders in your garage. Where were they? Under something like a workbench, or in the corners of the garage? Just knowing where they like to live will be of help to me.

BBH

Originally Posted by BigBendHiker

... Just knowing where they like to live will be of help to me.

BBH

They prefer to live in piles of stuff (wood/debris) and other places that are generally left undisturbed; hence, their name, recluse. In homes, they like to hang out in boxes and areas of closets and garages where things are often tossed and forgotten.

Although brown recluses are often found in Texas, I would again like to state that actual bites are rare. As the Wikipedia article that Shannon posted states, as many as 80% of skin lesions diagnosed as brown recluse bites actually are not bites at all. Probably most of them are infections by Staphylococcus aureus (so-called Staph infections).

The article at the following link, written by an entomologist, has some great photos and identification info, as well as suggestions to reduce the odds of sustaining brown recluse bite injuries:

Identifying and Misidentifying the Brown Recluse Spider

JohnK

Hey BigBend Hiker,
JohnK was right about them hiding, they where found above a door in my wifes old material and doll repair boxes.My brother went thru all the boxes and they found 2 more dead BR's.The material and boxes have been there since we built the garage about 6 years now.They now have glue traps in the garage and we hope we find no more of them.My temputure has finially gone down from 102. to 100. Doctors said that was a great sign,he also said that I pick a strange diet because I drop 11 pounds since the 23rd of Dec.These anti-biotics are tuff on the tummy.He has set up nurse's to change dressings for us,and that has helped dw to relax some.So far ,so good and again thanks for the good wishes,it seems to be working.And JohnK he has me setup to see a wound specialist ,but he thinks we shoud be ok.Campermom I already have a tatoo drawn up of a BR holding a Texas flag (my dd's ideal).


srds :cool:
Have Fun

They used Pest Controls Spider bombs and BR glue traps,We haven't seen anymore so far.Just got back from wound center at Brazosport and they went in and did a little more scrapping,The doc said they were healing good and gave me some antibiotics.So far so good,I'm feeling so much better now and haven't ran a temp for the last few days.Friends behind us clear out their garage and bombed with regular house bombs and found a small copperhead in the space under hotwater heater,you never know.Thanks again for your support and hope everyone is having a great new year.

srds :cool:
Have Fun

i'm just glad your doing better srds, i knew someone who had a spider lay eggs inside their leg. they usually lay their eggs in carrion but the girl was passed out and i guess the spider thought she was dead. anyway the babies never hatched since it was living flesh but the spot got pretty infected.i will always remember her as the lady who got knocked up by a spider.